Joining a Writing Group to Get Your Book Draft Done

In this post, I’m going to share why community matters more than discipline when it comes to finishing your book. This is true whether you’re in a women’s writing group online, you’re meeting locally in-person with other writers, or you’re hosting a small group yourself.

Plain and simple, writing feels a little bit easier for most of us when we do it together instead of on our own!

If you’ve been trying to write your book alone, you may have experienced this:

Solitude can be supportive (especially if you’re a soloist writer)… but it can also become a very sneaky, very quiet place for resistance to grow.

Most aspiring authors don’t struggle with ideas. They struggle with momentum—staying connected to their book long enough, consistently enough, to get a full draft on the page.

(Read that again!)

One of the most effective, sustainable ways to create that momentum?

Joining a writing group.

A writing group where you can talk about your work, hear about common struggles that other writers are facing, and be seen.

I’m talking about a grounded, encouraging, spacious writing group—one that helps you return to your book again and again with clarity, courage, and accountability.

Let’s talk about why writing groups help you get your book draft done… and what to look for when choosing one.

1. Showing up is easier when you’re not doing it alone.

When you’re writing solo, it’s surprisingly easy to skip a day. Then a week. Then months go by and you lose connection with your story.

But when you have a scheduled writing session with a small community of humans who get it?

You show up.

Because someone else is holding the space with you. Because you know you’ll have a place to share your frustrations, and celebrate your wins. A writing group can become a place where you look forward to showing up and being seen. A place where you can embody your identity as a writer, and experiment with who that version of you is. How they act. What they’re proud of. It’s a place where momentum builds quietly, one session at a time.

And you never have to “get motivated” first. You just show up as you are, and see what happens in your writing session that day.

2. You stay connected to your book’s energy.

This might sound strange to some people, but I believe that books have a soul. An energy. An intelligence to them.

And if part of your purpose in this life is to help bring a book into the world, you’re going to feel it. There’s going to be a knock at your door—sometimes a loud one!

If you ignore the knocking, the knowing in your soul that it’s time to write your book, that can actually become painful. There’s a cognitive dissonance between what you know you want to do and what you’re not showing up for… and that’s tough. I’ve been there.

Joining a writing group eliminates this back and forth in your head (and your heart!) about whether or not you should work on your book or prioritize something else.

Writing groups keep you in the energy of your book.

Even one hour a week of intentional focus keeps the thread alive, so writing becomes less about constantly having to find the energy to re-start your process… and it becomes more about just continuing the progress you’ve already made. (One way to keep this going? At the end of a writing session, write down what your next step is, so you can pick back up right where you left off!)

Plus, you get to hang out with awesome people, have fun, and not take yourself so seriously all the time!

3. In a writing group, you rewrite your self-beliefs about what you’re capable of.

Many women carry an internal narrative that says things like:

“I should be able to do this on my own.”
“I’m behind.”
”I’m not disciplined enough.”
”Who am I to write a book?”

What we forget?

We’re not alone in having these thoughts.

That’s one of the biggest things I witness week after week in my women’s writing group: authors realizing that their struggles are actually quite common, and it takes a ton of pressure off to recognize that you’re not alone in feeling those struggles.

You realize, we’re all human. We all have hard days. We all have days where the words aren’t flowing.

But you’re supported! You’re not alone. You realize you can do this, you just have to keep showing up and being honest with yourself about what you need.

A writing group becomes the place where your identity as an author grows and strengthens. Where you practice being someone who writes consistently. Where you gather proof that you can finish your book.

4. Momentum builds faster in community.

Something quite magical happens every week when I gather my women’s writing group on Zoom. I hear things like:

• “Wow, time went by so fast during that session!”

• “I got completely immersed in my work.”

• “I didn’t get distracted at all.”

• “I felt surprisingly calm that whole time.”

Gathering together creates a magnetic energy that everyone in the group can feel. When we focus together, our focus gets stronger. When we practice the same routine every week, our bodies aren’t fighting against it; we know what to expect and we drop in faster.

Writing is sometimes described as a lonely path—but that’s a myth.

In community:

• You feel less resistance.

• Your discipline improves—but in a way that feels less like “discipline” and more like devotion.

• Your confidence grows naturally. Especially when others in the group acknowledge your progress and you feel more comfortable celebrating yourself.

• You start writing more words than you ever have before.

It’s magic.

When you’re supported, witnessed, and gently encouraged, progress happens.

Quietly. Consistently. Powerfully. It makes such a difference. Instead of the experience feeling strained or forced, it starts to flow more naturally.

5. A writing group supports your nervous system.

This is the piece most people miss.

Finishing a book isn’t just about your skill in stringing together sentences. It’s about your emotional capacity.

If your writing environment is overwhelming, judgmental, rushed, or performative, your whole body is going to contract. Chances are, you can only sustain that for a short period of time before you give up and move on to something else.

A writing group offers the opposite:

• Spaciousness

• Safety

• Quiet accountability

• Ritual and rhythm

• Permission to write in your own way, at your own pace

When your nervous system feels supported, your creative channel opens.

This is why so many writers make more progress in a few weeks of a grounded writing group than they made alone in months.

Choosing the Right Writing Group

Not every group will be the right fit, and that’s okay. If you try one group and don’t feel content, there’s probably a reason why. Pay attention to that. Pay attention to the cues your body is giving you and whether you feel refreshed and re-invigorated after sessions, or if you feel depleted or grumpy.

Look for a group where:

• The facilitator understands creativity, resistance, and the emotional landscape of writing

• There is structure, but not pressure

• Equal amount of time is given to everyone in the group to speak (this creates psychological safety)

• The focus is on writing, not performing or competing

• You leave feeling more grounded than when you arrived

• The community feels warm, encouraging, and real

If you’re writing a memoir, healing story, or transformational nonfiction, you’ll especially want a group that honors the emotional layers of the work.

In my women’s writing group, I make a point to get to know people as people, not just as writers. I want everyone in the group to feel safe to show up as they are, whether they’re having a rough day or a great one, whether they write a lot of words or don’t write any.

It’s about supporting each other and having space to be real and authentic. That’s so important.

Finding a women’s writing community online

If you’re exploring how to find a supportive women’s writing community online, it helps to look for groups that blend structure with emotional safety.

Many writers start by searching for women’s writing groups online that offer meaningful interaction, steady accountability, and a welcoming space to show up exactly as they are. The reality is: not all writing communities are going to resonate with you. Some may feel overwhelming or too large, while others may lack the energy and consistency needed to actually help you move your book forward.

A helpful starting point is to look for affordable membership options for women’s writing groups online that still provide high-quality guidance. A good membership should feel like an investment in your writing life without becoming a source of stress.

Ideally, the group offers clear writing rhythms, co-writing sessions, and ongoing support so you never feel like you’re navigating your book draft in isolation.

What to look for in an online writing group with live support

More and more authors are searching for women’s writing groups that offer live video sessions, because live support provides a level of accountability and connection that asynchronous forums simply can’t match. Writing alongside others in real time creates actual momentum—the kind that helps you return to your manuscript consistently and actually make progress.

You walk away from the sessions week after week with tangible progress and a feeling of I can do this! because you are doing it.

If you’re someone who thrives with gentle structure and relational support, look for groups that offer weekly or biweekly live sessions, guided reflection, and opportunities to ask questions in a safe environment.

You can also explore online women’s writing mentorship programs, especially if you’re craving personalized guidance. Many writers want to know where to sign up for online women’s writing mentorship programs that feel supportive rather than prescriptive. I think the best programs offer a combination of mentorship, accountability, community, and trauma-informed support that honors both your creativity and your nervous system.

Finding active online spaces for women writers

If you prefer community-driven spaces, consider researching the most active online forums for women writers. These can be a powerful supplement to a writing group, offering space for questions, inspiration, and connection between your writing sessions. However, forums alone rarely provide the contained structure needed to finish a full manuscript, which is why many writers combine forum engagement with a consistent writing group or mentorship program. Together, they create a dynamic ecosystem of support that helps you stay connected to your book and your voice.

When you find a writing community that aligns with your values, supports your emotional well-being, and offers regular opportunities to write, everything changes. The path to completing your book becomes less lonely, less pressured, and far more sustainable.

If You’re Looking for a Supportive Writing Community…

I run a writing group for women who want a gentle, grounded, consistent space to work on their books.

We meet twice a week and write together, talk about our work, and do Q&A sessions where you can ask me anything about writing, editing, and publishing.

It’s weekly co-writing, guided reflection, nervous-system-safe support, and the kind of encouragement that actually helps you finish your book draft instead of bail on it midway through.

If you want a space that helps you build momentum and finally get your draft done, you can learn more here: https://www.confidentauthors.com/community

The Write On Women’s Writing Group is small—usually 10-20 people at most, often more like 8-10 people per session, so that everyone’s voice can be heard.

Women in the group have described the environment as being:

• Understanding

• Accepting

• Encouraging

• Open

• Welcoming

• Supportive

• Cozy

• Fun

• Safe

• Gentle

• Positive

• Solutions-Focused

• Structured

I’m extremely proud of what we’ve built in that writing group and take a lot of time and intentionality to keep it a safe, supportive environment. Reach out if you’re interested in joining or you have questions about the group!